Publication Date: 28th April 2025
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/greekislandgift
Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219294546-a-greek-island-gift
Genre: Contemporary Romance
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Good setting with a family drama
Book Blurb:
An unexpected gift… A home in paradise?
When Molly Adams finds out she’s
inherited an apartment in Kassiopi, Corfu, she’s left thinking there must be
some mistake. She doesn’t know anyone in Greece at all.
But when she arrives, there’s a shock. Molly hasn’t
inherited a whole apartment; it’s only 50%. But there’s more – she’s also
inherited 50% of a boat, 50% of an olive tree and… 25% of a cat.
Christos Baros
is coming home to Corfu for the summer. A self-made entrepreneur, owning three
gyms in Athens, he has no need for half an apartment, half a boat, half an
olive tree, or a quarter of a cat, but he knows these things are important to
his mother.
Molly and Christos’s worlds collide in a whirlwind,d
and the irresistible charm of the Greek island draws them even closer together.
But as they uncover the secrets of their shared inheritance, will they discover
that sometimes, sharing what you never wanted can lead to exactly what you
need?
This summer, join Molly and Christos in
Corfu as they try to work out if one shared Greek gift will turn into a shared
future. Perfect for fans of Sue Moorcroft and Jenny Colgan.
***
My Thoughts:
The story comes in Molly and Christos’s third-person POVs.
The main attraction for me was the inheritance of 25% of a cat. Like, how do you decide which quarter of the cat is yours? Does she get a leg and an ear, or does she feed the cat once every alternate day? Unfortunately, the cat doesn’t appear until the halfway point.
The dual POV helped get both sides of the story. The
main characters have issues to deal with, so each getting their POV brings some
balance to the plot.
What we don’t get in the blurb is the presence of a
tiny but overbearing family on both sides. Though it’s just a mother and friend
for the FMC and a mother and a younger sister for the MMC, they stand out more
than the main leads!
Not sure if the MMC’s mom was supposed to be the
typical Greek mother, but she reminded me of OTT and stereotyped Indian moms –
loving but super suffocating and hyper. Reading scenes with her gave me quite a
bit of stress, though I think they were supposed to be funny.
The pacing was pretty fast, so enough, although the
story didn’t progress much, the % moved ahead steadily. This helped since
people seem to go around in circles about the past.
Still, I empathized with the main character’s
concerns and vulnerabilities. Their fears were valid. I also liked the career
choices.
That said, the romance part didn’t hit the mark.
There was some attraction, but I didn’t vibe with it. I can’t say I could feel
their chemistry to root for them. Add all those secrets and drama to the mix, and there wasn’t enough focus on the couple’s connection or the supposed something
they felt for each other.
However, the setting was great. Reading about sweaty
and hot summers in Corfu when living in a tropical country didn’t help, lol. I
was sweating already. Still, I enjoyed the description of the views, the sea,
and the buildings. It has an old-world charm and sounds attractive.
To summarize, A Greek Island Gift has its moments
and deals with some important themes about family, relationships, secrets, etc.
Read it as a family drama instead of a romance. You may like it better.
Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and
Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest
opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
***
About the Author – Mandy Baggot
Mandy Baggot is an international bestselling and
award-winning romance writer represented by Tanera Simons of Greenstone
Literary.
Mandy is best-known for her laugh-out-loud romantic
comedies featuring strong heroines, gorgeous heroes, and always that
happy-ever-after!
The winner of the Innovation in Romantic Fiction
award at the UK's Festival of Romance, her novel, One Wish in Manhattan, was
also shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Comedy Novel
of the Year award in 2016. In 2024, Mandy's novel, Desperately Seeking Summer, became a Hallmark Original Movie entitled A Greek Recipe for Romance.
Mandy loves the Greek island of Corfu, where she has
a home. She also loves wine, cheese, Netflix, handbags, and horse racing. Also a
singer, she has taken part in ITV1's Who Dares Sings and The X-Factor. Most
recently, Mandy took part in BBC1's Ready Steady Cook with Greek celebrity
chef, Akis Petretzikis.
Mandy is a member of the Society of Authors and
splits her time between living in Wiltshire, UK, and Corfu, Greece.
Follow the Author:
Facebook: @MandyBaggotAuthor
Twitter: @MandyBaggot
Instagram: @MandyBaggot
Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/MandyBaggotNews
Bookbub Profile:@MandyBaggot
***
This has been a stop on the #AGreekIslandGift blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources). Thanks for stopping by!
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